Cabo

WARNING: THIS IS A LONG POST BECAUSE...CABO Alright, so...last week I popped down to Mexico for a few days. After 13  hours of travel I arrived at the resort where I found my family, who had already been there for several days, lounging by the most gorgeous  pool I had ever seen with pretty solid tans already going on.

We stayed at Cabo Azul, a new resort in San Jose del Cabo. I would recommend this resort a thousand times over. We stayed in a gorgeous 3 bedroom penthouse with a balcony that spanned the length of the whole suite.

The decor that this hotel hosted was what my sisters and I  call Kardashian-esque. It was super trendy and was lit almost solely by real sunlight. It was the perfect atmosphere for a most  relaxing getaway. Oh, and at night torches of fire lit up EVERYWHERE, it felt like we were on Survivor...in a glamorous way. 

The hotel also had a gorgeous view of the beach. There were people  riding horses down the beach about every 15 minutes, which I found  shocking at first, but came to quite enjoy watching. 

The hotel also had  some delicious and eclectic food. My personal favorites were the shrimp ceviche, blueberry macarons and THE BEST iced coffee I have ever had.

The picture below IS NOT POSED..somehow. I managed to capture  my sister, Mallory, in a very Jackie O moment  during one of our early mornings by the pool. What can I say? Talent.

Now, it is no secret that I enjoy, more than most things,

 to be pampered. So, I'm sure it's not shocking when I tell you that  one of my favorite parts of the trip was our evening in the  hotel spa.
 All of the ladies in the group - so my two sisters,  my mom, and my sister's good friend, Michele - got  the PAZ Signature Massage, which combines several types of massage, including  Swedish, Thai (one of my personal favorites), and Reflexology. It was HEAVENLY. Worth flying to Cabo for, I'd say. As long as your not shy...the massage therapists  have your leg stretched over your head  while you have not a stitch of clothing to cover you..so it's a bit full frontal  but definitely worth it. Oyy, I'm already longing for another.
Another highlight of the trip was a sunset cruise in Cabo San Lucas.  It was absolutely breathtaking. We sailed from the Sea of Cortez to the Pacific and got to see  The Arch, Lovers Beach and a gorgeous sunset along the way.

The only downside to the boat cruise? A group of older men  who, I suspect, had had more than a few too many were attempting to step on my dress to yank it down  while I was taking photos for a bit. Creepy. My dad had to come  to the rescue and sweep me away. But, ya win some, ya lose some, eh?  Luckily, I didn't lose my dress. 
On my last night there we went to dinner at  Market at The One and Only La Palmilla (a resort known for it's  celebrity guests). It was quite the bougie scene and quite  an expensive bill but the food was gloriously delicious  (I had a starter called Tuna Ribbons, need I say more?) and the  hotel itself was beautiful to behold. It reminded me of the Bachelor mansion.  I couldn't find Juan Pablo, though. (picture below)

Overall, it was a wonderful trip...one of my favorite family vacations we've ever been on. There's nothing better than spending quality time with your family while soaking up some much needed  UV rays and getting to be extravagant...all while knowing your  folks are picking up the bill. 

Besitos.

Party of 12 in Vermont

This past weekend I went with 11 friends to have a President’s day/Valentine’s day getaway at my friend, Maren’s, vacation home in Grand Isle, Vermont.

All 12 of us packed our bodies, our duffels, a keg, 3 handles of Vodka, one bottle of tequila, a box of Franzia and probably 15 bags of potato chips into 2 SUVs and hit the road.

After 5+ hours of driving (and a very unfavorable experience at a rest stop) we arrived at Maren’s home.

This is the second year that my friends have visited Maren’s Vermont home, however, last year I was studying abroad in London when they went so this was my first time there. I had been told that the house slept 20 people and we would be what my friends call “glamping”. However, I did not anticipate just how unbelievable and beautiful and quirky in all the right ways this house would be.

I set out on Friday prepared for a weekend filled with fun and outdoor beer Olympics – I did not prepare for the full on love affair with Maren’s home.

This environmentally friendly house is GIGANTIC yet quaint and has unbelievable views of Lake Champlain...which is in the backyard.

So, initially I was going to fill this post with stories of 12 college seniors with varying personalities and a capacity for being quite strange trying to make our precious last semester of “freedom” count as much as we can. However, while all the craziness I expected did occur, I’ll choose to be chaste and keep my mouth shut (what happens in Vermont, stays in Vermont?) and, instead, share photos of this amazing Vermont “cabin” with you. And some scenic images as well because…how could I not?

  

And the coolest part of the weekend? Taking a ferry over semi-frozen water to get to Grand Isle (because, I’m not sure if you were aware…I wasn’t until very recently… but Grand Isle is actually an island! Go figure.)

We returned home to Fordham yesterday night feeling hungover yet, somehow, refreshed – must be that Vermont air…and all the laughing. It certainly wasn’t the potato chips.

For some context, this photo was taken by a rickety old ferry worker who might be blind because he thought this photo turned out well. However, I think that a photo more perfectly staged would not suit this particular group of individuals...my valentines.

P.S. I’m writing this post from a plane on my way to Cabo. 

I’ll stay put when I’m dead. More posts to come!!!